Now government should live within its means and yes, we must look after poor people in Australia.

But poverty in this nation, while confronting, is nothing compared to what billions who live in extreme poverty in places like Africa and India endure.

During the Howard era, both sides of politics signed up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Other nations signed on, notably the United Kingdom, which met its commitment to raise aid to 0.7 per cent of GNI.

All this while imposing austerity measures to fix a budget emergency far worse than Australia’s.

Media reports yesterday that the Turnbull Government will tonight raid the aid budget to pay for counter terrorism measures is further evidence of our abandonment of the world's poor.

That there is little outcry, even from the church, is testament to how great a hold materialism has on our hearts.

Money is precious to us.

We seem to see the budget as about us and our economic well-being.

Yes, we have a generous welfare system for our poor and more money will be found for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but we are putting aside precious little for our neighbours in our global community who are suffering.

Now that the MDGs have expired, the new Sustainable Development Goals have been adopted and continue to pursue the eradication of all forms of poverty.

A measure of virtue is one’s ability to do things for others in disregard for one’s own self-interest.